Fun Stuff to Do With Toddlers in Cincinnati, OH

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Nestled in the southwest part of Ohio, Cincinnati offers family-friendly attractions ideal for those traveling with toddlers. The best stops for families with young children keep toddlers interested while providing a safe place for them to play. All of the attractions also offer activities appealing to older children and adults so the entire family can enjoy the visit.

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (cincinnatizoo.org) is open year-round except Christmas Day. Some animals might be off exhibit, depending on the weather and individual needs of the animals. The zoo features a mix of outdoor animal habitats and indoor animal displays. The displays include Gorilla World, Elephant Reserve, Giraffe Ridge, Manatee Springs, Tropical African Animals, Rhino Reserve and World of the Insect. Toddlers can visit barnyard animals and a petting zoo in the children's zoo area. For an additional cost, families can ride the zoo train and carousel. If you don't want to pack a stroller for your toddler, the zoo offers a limited number of single and double strollers for rent.

Duke Energy Children's Museum

The Duke Energy Children's Museum (cincymuseum.org/childrensmuseum) is part of the Cincinnati Museum Center, with several museums. While the other museums are better suited for older children and adults, the Duke Energy Children's Museum is an ideal place for toddlers to interact with a variety of exhibits. The Energy Zone features simple machines and lots of balls that regularly dump down from a large bucket. Kids' Town is a child-sized city with a store, gas station, veterinarian, post office and restaurant. The Woods area is a three-story climbing area where parents can climb along with young children. The Little Sprouts Farm is an area of the museum made specifically with toddlers in mind. The area includes slides, puppet shows, a sand table, a pretend row boat, a garden filled with vegetables and a soft play area.

Coney Island

Coney Island (coneyislandpark.com) is a Cincinnati amusement park featuring rides for all ages, including toddlers. Each ride has a height requirement, with some rides allowing younger children to ride with an adult. Rides ideal for toddlers include the carousel, airplanes, boats and trains, racing rockets, turtles, helicopters and a small swing ride. Coney Island also has a pool with waterslides and a huge pool with a shallow area for young children. Coney's Mining Town is a child-size mining town your toddler can explore. For toddlers who love games, the arcade is another entertainment option at Coney Island.

Newport Aquarium

The Newport Aquarium (www.newportaquarium.com) is actually located in Newport, Kentucky, but the aquarium rests right along the Ohio River, which also borders Cincinnati. The aquarium is only a few minutes from downtown Cincinnati, making it an easy drive during your vacation. The Newport Aquarium features 70 exhibits, including underwater tunnels where toddlers can walk under their favorite ocean animals. Young kids get a chance to touch animals such as horseshoe crabs and sea stars. Featured animals on display include penguins, sharks, rays, jellyfish, crocodiles and eels, as well as a variety of fish and other ocean animals. The aquarium limits the use of strollers during busy times, so check the stroller calendar or call the aquarium if you want to bring a stroller for your toddler.

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About the Author

Based in the Midwest, Shelley Frost has been writing parenting and education articles since 2007. Her experience come from teaching, tutoring and managing educational after school programs. Frost worked in insurance and software testing before becoming a writer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education with a reading endorsement.

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